Mithradates Eupator

Mithradates Eupator, or The Great (sometimes incorrectly spelt Mithridates), (circa 132-63 B.C.), succeeded his father about 120 B.C., and soon became master of the shores of the Euxine as far as the Tauric Chersonese. In SS B.C. an invasion of the King of Bithynia, who had been incited by the Romans to attack Mithradates, gave rise to the first Mithradatic War. Mithradates rapidly gained possession of the neighbouring kingdoms, and overran the Roman province of Asia; but, he was expelled from Pergamus by C. Flavins Fimbria in 85, and in 84 Sulla forced him to restore his conquests and pay a large indemnity. In the course of the second Mithradatic War (83-S1) Mithradates greatly strengthened his position in Asia. He brought about the third Mithradatic War by his invasion of Bithynia (74), in which he was aided by certain Romans favourable to the cause of Marius. After some successes he was forced by Lucullus to seek refuge with Tigranes of Armenia (72), and in 68 the same general defeated both kings in the battle of Artaxata. The war was brought to a close by Pompey, who defeated him on the Euphrates near the Armenian border. Mithradates now withdrew to the Cimmerian Bosphorus. Three years afterwards he killed himself at Pantioapseum (Kertch), to escape falling into the hands of his rebellious son, Pharnaces.